Collapsible toilet-seat trunnion pin

ABSTRACT

A COLLAPSIBLE TRUNNION PIN TO SERVE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE ORIGINAL PIN CUSTOMARILY PROVIDED WITH TOILET SEAT ASSEMBLIES. THIS TRUNNION PIN PERMITS CONVENIENT DIS-ASASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT AND COVER FROM THE BOWL FITTINGS SO THAT   THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE BOWL AND SEAT MAY BE EASILY CLEANED.

' Sept. 28, 1971 c, M, TROST 3,608,100

COLLAPSIBLE TOILET-SEAT TRUNNION PIN Filed March 18, 1970 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 3,608,100 COLLAPSIBLE TOILET-SEAT TRUNNION PIN Constance M. Trost, 4350 N. 25th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53209 Filed Mar. 18, 1970, Ser. No. 20,676 Int. Cl. A47k 13/12 US. Cl. 4236 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible trunnion pin to serve as a replacement for the original pin customarily provided with toilet seat assemblies. This trunnion pin permits convenient dis-assembly of the seat and cover from the bowl fittings so that the surrounding areas of the bowl and seat may be easily cleaned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention concerns trunnion pins which are employed as the pivot means for toilet seats and covers.

(2) Description of the prior art Leslie, 2,283,893 Leslie, 2,913,735 Young, 3,032,777

The above patents generally set forth trunnion means designed specifically for their seat fittings and therefore there is no need for a replacement pin of the nature of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This trunnion pin is intended as a replacement for the well-known pin customarily furnished with standard toilet seat assemblies. An object of this invention is to provide a replacement pin that permits convenient removal of the seat and cover for thorough cleaning of the bowl and surrounding areas without the necessity for troublesome use of tools.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view of the preferred form of the trunnion pin, partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a toilet seat and bowl, partly in section, and showing the trunnion pin of this invention in the process of being inserted or removed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a toilet-seat-andbowl assembly having the trunnion pin of this invention assembled therewith.

The conventional toilet bowl 10 has fixed posts 12 and 14 which include bosses 16 and 18 having bores 20 and 22.

Cover 24 is provided with fittings having bosses 26 and 28 which have bores 30 and 32. Bosses 26 and 28 are positioned inwardly of bosses 16 and 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Seat 34 has bosses 36 and 38 provided with blind bores 40 and 42 in this instance, and which bosses have shanks to permit fastening them to seat 34 by means of screws such as 44.

Trunnion pin 46 comprises a fixed pin 48 and an axiallydisplaceable pin 50. A sleeve 52 is co-axial with pins 48 and 50, and serves to enclose a compression spring 53. Pin 48 preferably, has an enlargement 54 which fits the bore 56 of sleeve 52 and is secured axially by a pin 58. Pin 50 has a first enlargement 60 which terminates in a second enlargement 62 of a diameter to freely slide in the bore of sleeve 52. Spring 53 extends axially between enlargements 54 and 62. The end 64 of sleeve 52 is formed inwardly toward the axis thereof in order to confine the enlargement 62 within the sleeve, and to provide additional lateral support for pin 50. A pin 66 or similar means is provided on enlargement 60 for convenience in installing or removing the pin 46.

When pin 46 is to be assembled with a customary type of unit, the original pin is removed, and posts 12 and 14 are replaced on bowl 10. One of the pins, such as 48 is to be inserted in bore 32 while the opposite pin 50 is to be inserted in the other bore 30. This is done by gripping sleeve 52 in the fingers of one hand and moving the portion 60 into the sleeve 52 by means of pin 66, until the ends of the pins 48 and 50 can be inserted between bosses 26 and 28. The pin 60 can then be released so that pins 50 and 48 enter their respective bores 30 and 32. Cover 24 is then shifted until pins 48 and 50 enter bores 20 and 22 of posts 12 and 14. Seat 34 is then shifted until pins 48 and 50 enter bores 40 and 42. The axial pressure of spring 53 maintains pins 48 and 50 in constant pivotal engagement with the bores 40 and 42 of bosses 36 and 38.

When removing the pin 46 in order to clean the seat and bowl, the process is reversed by shifting pins 48 and 50 axially toward each other until these pins are clear of bosses 16 and 18. The pin 46 can then be lifted clear of the assembly. The seat and cover is then free to be separated and thoroughly cleaned.

The above being a complete description of an i-llustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Aetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A trunnion pin for assembling a toilet seat and cover with the fittings of a toilet bowl, said bowl having posts, said seat and cover having bosses, said posts and bosses having bores axially-positionable, mutually, said trunnion pin comprising a sleeve, a fixed pin extending axially from one end of said sleeve, an axially-shiftable pin slidable in said sleeve and extending from the opposite end of said sleeve, and resilient means within said sleeve to urge said axially-shiftable pin outwardly relative to said sleeve.

2. A trunnion pin as set forth in claim 1, in which said resilient means comprises a spring in said sleeve extending between said fixed pin and said shiftable pin to urge the latter axially.

3. A trunnion pin as set forth in claim 1 in which said sleeve has means to limit the axial displacement of said shiftable pin.

4. A trunnion pin as set forth in claim 1 in which said 2,913,735 11/1959 Leslie 4234 axially-shiftable pin has peripheral means to be engaged 3,032,777 5/1962 Young 4240 when manually shifting the said shiftable pin. OTHER REFERENCES References Cited 5 602,556 3/1960 Italy 4236 104,695 6/1942 Sweden 4240 UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,179 6/1951 Switzerland 4 240 1,949,442 3/1934 Zundel 8 4237 2,202,668 5/1940 Moore 4236 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 2,283,893 5/ 1942 Leslie 4240 11/19b7 Lundgren 4 236 10 D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

